Combined inclinometer and compass



May 24, 1932.

J. E. MARSHALL COMBINED INCLINOMETER AND COMPASS 7 Filed Sept. 50, 1929 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jiz'mes E.Wfarsha2l Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES.

JAMES E. MARsHALL, or AMARILLQ, TEXAS l COMBINED INGLI NOMETER AND COMPASS Application filed September so, 1929; Serial No. 396,285.;

This invention relates to a combined in,- clinometer and compass for enabling an aviator or other person to ascertain the direction in which he is traveling and also to 5 ascertain the degree of inclination of his ship in any direction relative to the normal level of the ground, the general object of the invention being to provide a hollow sphere formed with a transparent part and a 4. compass arranged in the sphere, said compass being movably supported in .thesphere so that it can always point to the north and so that it can act as a marker on the graduations associated with the sphere for indicatingthe l5 longitudinal and transverse tilts of the craft.

Thus with this device, an aviator, for instance, can ascertain the angle of descent and ascent and of the banks and turns as well as the direction he is traveling. to This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying draw- 7 ings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the severa views, and in which V Figure l is a front View of the device. Figure ,2 is a side view thereof with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4l4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the supporting means for the compass. v

In these views, the letter A indicates a spherical member which is preferably formed of a rear metal half 1 and a transparent front half 2, the metal part having a flange 3 thereon formed with a groove in 1ts front face to receive a flange 4 on the transparent part The flange 4 is held in the" .of climb, turns and banks so that the aviagroove by an annular strip 5 suitably fastened to the flange 3 and having the graduations 6 on its front face. Graduatlons 7 5 are also etched or otherwise placed on the 'vertical center ofthe transparent member,

and I prefer to so arrange the graduations thatthe three 'Zero marks 8 are arranged in a horizontal plane when the device is in an upright position, as shown in Figure 1, and tea with the 180 marks on the scale 6. at the top and bottom of the device, asshown at 9.

r g A compass is inovably arranged within the spherical member and consists of the usual needle 10 and a ring 11 Which are connected 6? with the ends of the needle, as shown in Figure t, the ring carrying the usual indications 12 for giving the points of the compass.

The'center of the needle is provided with a substantially conical depending part1?) and a jewel let-is placed in. an opening at the upper end of the conical part to form aibearing for the needle-like supporting member 15.which has its lower end connectedwith, the lower part ofthe member 1'. The upper .7

end of the jewelis rounded as shown, and

ways point north and as the ship tilts in any dlIBClZlOIl, the compass remains in a horizontal position and will thus indicate on the graduations 6 and 7 the amount of tiltof the ship. For instance, if the .aviator is ascending, the spherical member will be tilted and as the compass remains in a horizontal position, a part ofthe' compass will indicate on the scale 6 the angle of tilt sothat the aviator will know the angle of his ascent. The 5 V same is true when the avlator'is descending and when the craft is tilted sidewise, such as a p in making turns, banks or for any, other reason, the compass will indicate the angle of tilt on the scale 7. Thus this d6VlO6 'Wlll indicate the direction of travel and the angles tor can readily tell in what direction he is traveling and whether or not he is traveling on an even keel and the angle of longitudinal if as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or to a vertical and transverse tilt if he is not traveling on an even keel. V v

A stem 18 is fastened to the bottom vof the spherical member and is pivoted to a stem 19 ,by a bolt and wing nut shown generally at 20. A ball and socket connection 21 connects the stem 19 to a stem 22 which is formed with v a base v23fastened to an instrument board or other part of the craft. A knurled nut 24 is provided fortightening the'ball and 1 socket joint .after'theparts -are adjusted. This arrangement permits the device to be attached to a horizontal part of the craft,

part, .as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

, The arrangement. also permits the'device to be fastened to any part of the craft,rwith the sphere in upright or vertical position when the-craft is on a horizontal keelr 'It is thought from theforegoing description that the advantages and novel features of the inventionwill be readily apparent.

Ibis to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combinationand arrangement of theseveral parts, provided that such changes fall within the scopeof the appended claim. What I claim is a V device oftheclass .described'comprising .a spherical member having its rear half formed of metalzand its front half of transparentmaterial, an annular scale surrounding the inner :part of the transparent portion,

' there being a second scale formed on the'verttical central portion of the transparent part, a

compass including a needle and a ring pivotally supported in the spherical r member,

whereby the compass wlll indicate the direction ofitravel and the inclination of a craft both longitudinally and transversely, the

supporting means for the compass including upwardly and downwardly extending rods terminatingadjacent the center of the spherical member, a bearing member at the center "Ofxth needle resting on the pointed end of the upwardly 'extending rod, said bearing .member having a rounded. upper end which is slidingly engaged by the lower end of the downwardlyextending rod; 7

.Intestimonywhereof I afix my signature. JAMES- E. r MARSHALL. I 

